Vancouver welcomes 15,000 global attendees for Web Summit, spotlighting B.C.’s innovation and investment potential.
Vancouver Hosts Inaugural Web Summit, Drawing Global Tech and Investment Leaders
The city of Vancouver is buzzing with activity as it hosts the first-ever Web Summit Vancouver, a major international technology conference expected to attract over 15,000 attendees from 120 countries between May 27 and May 30.
A Global Stage for Local Innovation
This marks the Canadian debut of the Web Summit, which began in Ireland in 2009 and has since become one of the world’s most influential tech gatherings. Local officials see the event as a transformative opportunity for British Columbia’s tech ecosystem.
“It’s a really exciting week to welcome the world,” said Linda Buchanan, Mayor of North Vancouver and Chair of the Invest Vancouver Management Board. “We’re showcasing innovation, technology, and the incredible talent we have here in B.C.”
High-Profile Speakers and Critical Topics
The conference features a lineup of headline speakers including:
- Jay Graber, CEO of Bluesky
- Ivan Zhang, Co-founder of AI firm Cohere
- Cornel West, American philosopher and author
Panels will tackle critical issues such as the ethical implications of artificial intelligence, the evolution of social media, and future-focused investment strategies.
A Boost for Local Business and Clean Tech
For Vancouver-based entrepreneurs, the summit presents a chance to attract international investors and forge global partnerships.
Brett Henkel, Co-founder of Svante Technologies in Burnaby, emphasized the importance of global visibility:
“We want people to know this is a great place to do business and manufacture—especially clean tech,” he said. “Web Summit helps spotlight the potential here.”
Henkel added that smaller companies, in particular, stand to gain from the exposure.
Strategic Advantages of Vancouver’s Tech Sector
Gurpreet Kalsi, director at Fujitsu Intelligence, hailed the event as “long overdue.” He said Vancouver is increasingly attractive to tech investors due to its thriving start-up culture and proximity to the Asia-Pacific market. “It showcases how many people are looking to invest in B.C. We have the right talent pool, and I’m very excited about it,” Kalsi said.
A Lasting Impact for B.C.
With its global reach and strong speaker lineup, Web Summit Vancouver is poised to amplify the province’s reputation as a growing hub for innovation and investment. As local leaders hope, this week’s conversations and connections may spark long-term growth across the region’s tech and clean energy sectors.
